Politics, politics, politics (so long and thanks for all the fish)

[Silly McSilly Face]

I feel European, up until recently I could roam the continent at my leisure without needing a passport to cross borders.

The languages I’m most familiar with are English, French, Spanish and German.

I need to travel a long way before I have trouble communicating, or feel outside my comfort zone.

You could never "roam the continent at your leisure without needing a passport to cross borders". You needed a passport to cross the border into the schengen free movement area, and you'd need your passport to exit said area. The UK has never been part of schengen and nor have many European countries.

 

[nelto]

You could never "roam the continent at your leisure without needing a passport to cross borders". You needed a passport to cross the border into the schengen free movement area, and you'd need your passport to exit said area. The UK has never been part of schengen and nor have many European countries.

Did that only apply to flying or ports? I’ve traveled between Krakow and Berlin by train, in and out of France and Belgium by car, same for France and Spain. Never had to show my passport.

 

[Silly McSilly Face]

Did that only apply to flying or ports? I’ve traveled between Krakow and Berlin by train, in and out of France and Belgium by car, same for France and Spain. Never had to show my passport.

So that's all within schengen (although i believe Germany has now imposed border checks).

 

[Silly McSilly Face]

BYD (Chinese car manufacturer) have announced a technology breakthrough in terms of EV charging where 249 miles of range were able to be added in under 5 minutes during tests. This technology would put new generation EVs on a par with ICE vehicles in terms of "refueling time".

 

[Grays_1890]

I feel European, up until recently I could roam the continent at my leisure without needing a passport to cross borders.

The languages I’m most familiar with are English, French, Spanish and German.

I need to travel a long way before I have trouble communicating, or feel outside my comfort zone.

Given the nature of my company I travel alot and its literally my clients business, Europe has become so much harder to navigate than it was. From the simple task of just walking in to now needing a truck loads of permits to operate there.

 

[Gutter Boy]

BYD (Chinese car manufacturer) have announced a technology breakthrough in terms of EV charging where 249 miles of range were able to be added in under 5 minutes during tests. This technology would put new generation EVs on a par with ICE vehicles in terms of "refueling time".

That sounds promising. It solves the whole charging network stuff when you can just replace pumps in petrol stations with chargers.

Solid state batteries are a few years away, but they are talking 1000 miles on a 10 minute charge with those.

 

[Gutter Boy]

BYD (Chinese car manufacturer) have announced a technology breakthrough in terms of EV charging where 249 miles of range were able to be added in under 5 minutes during tests. This technology would put new generation EVs on a par with ICE vehicles in terms of "refueling time".

We've got to open the country to Chinese cars, purely on environmental grounds. They are so far ahead of American and European manufacturers. We're clinging to Nokias in an iPhone age.

 

[ricky2tricky4city]

We've got to open the country to Chinese cars, purely on environmental grounds. They are so far ahead of American and European manufacturers. We're clinging to Nokias in an iPhone age.

Are there other manufacturers? They're are plenty of BYDs about.

Edit. So I read we (UK) don't charge a tariff on China EVs but the EU do, up to 43%. Hmmm I smell an opportunity.

 

[Grays_1890]

Best thing to happen is Reform getting a small level of power in local elections which will show people how little they do and how politically incompetent they are................Farage getting panned by locals for his performance as their MP, no chance he retains that seat

 

[P.D.]

BYD (Chinese car manufacturer) have announced a technology breakthrough in terms of EV charging where 249 miles of range were able to be added in under 5 minutes during tests. This technology would put new generation EVs on a par with ICE vehicles in terms of "refueling time".

Their cars are really nice, I was in a showroom the other day and they look good and interiors are pretty slick. I know they probably have subsidies but you get a lot for your money - I can see myself getting one next time I change car. Still not seen any on the roads yet but I'm sure I will soon enough.

 

[Gutter Boy]

Are there other manufacturers? They're are plenty of BYDs about.

Edit. So I read we (UK) don't charge a tariff on China EVs but the EU do, up to 43%. Hmmm I smell an opportunity.

GWM, SAIC, Nio - there are loads. Nio are the big movers with solid state/the 1000 mile range.

If you go somewhere like Latin America, these are a 70-80% of all car sales now.

I agree the UK should be using its Brexit benefit to get all over this.

 

[Gutter Boy]

Best thing to happen is Reform getting a small level of power in local elections which will show people how little they do and how politically incompetent they are................Farage getting panned by locals for his performance as their MP, no chance he retains that seat

brick shines brightest in the light.

 

[ricky2tricky4city]

Their cars are really nice, I was in a showroom the other day and they look good and interiors are pretty slick. I know they probably have subsidies but you get a lot for your money - I can see myself getting one next time I change car. Still not seen any on the roads yet but I'm sure I will soon enough.

I agree. I was looking at EV options and you couldn't fault them for the price.
Plus 6 months old stuff came at a hell of a discount to showroom price.
(although then sadly loses qualifying for 100% first year right down allowance)

 

[Silly McSilly Face]

Are there other manufacturers? They're are plenty of BYDs about.

Edit. So I read we (UK) don't charge a tariff on China EVs but the EU do, up to 43%. Hmmm I smell an opportunity.

MG are owned by SAIC although they still maintain an engineering team in the UK, they're essentially the other mass-market Chinese brand operating in Europe.

 

[Silly McSilly Face]

We've got to open the country to Chinese cars, purely on environmental grounds. They are so far ahead of American and European manufacturers. We're clinging to Nokias in an iPhone age.

I'd exclude Tesla from that characterisation of American manufacturers. Tesla way ahead in terms of EV technology and on a par with the Chinese. They're still the only mass market affordable EV you can buy with circa 400 miles on single rapid charge....

 

[ricky2tricky4city]

MG are owned by SAIC although they still maintain an engineering team in the UK, they're essentially the other mass-market Chinese brand operating in Europe.

Yeah I remember reading that, as originally I was surprised MG had popped up in the EV market...then it all made sense

 

[Silly McSilly Face]

Yeah I remember reading that, as originally I was surprised MG had popped up in the EV market...then it all made sense

They've proved more popular in Europe so far than BYD as UK engineering has tended towards better design for European driving conditions (heavier steering and stiffer suspension) than Chinese engineered brands. Plus focus on compact SUV market and ownership of an established European brand gave them a headstart over Chinese rivals.

 

[johnola]

We've got to open the country to Chinese cars, purely on environmental grounds. They are so far ahead of American and European manufacturers. We're clinging to Nokias in an iPhone age.

Sure- if they build them here.

 

[Diamond Lights]

Best thing to happen is Reform getting a small level of power in local elections which will show people how little they do and how politically incompetent they are................Farage getting panned by locals for his performance as their MP, no chance he retains that seat

Respectfully disagree. The guy is a millionaire banker. The fact that he's seen as a man of the people, to me at least, means it will take a lot more than that for folks to wake up to the snake oil salesman. Everyone already knows he barely turns up in his constituency, people dont care. "Good ol' Nige'. He tells it like it is. Send 'em back!"

Anyway, am sure it's been covered but the thing that stands out most for me... GB News. Reform have plundered huge support from the platform. The platform which was championed universally by the Tory Right, has ultimately led to their own demise as a party, at least on the last 2 years or so.

Tory MP after Tory MP took their time to jump on the bandwagon, defend it etc, and it simply has led to more and more Reform votes and less and less Tory votes. They could still come back of course, though whether Kemi is capable i dont know, i dont think so.

 

[Grays_1890]

Respectfully disagree. The guy is a millionaire banker. The fact that he's seen as a man of the people, to me at least, means it will take a lot more than that for folks to wake up to the snake oil salesman. Everyone already knows he barely turns up in his constituency, people dont care. "Good ol' Nige'. He tells it like it is. Send 'em back!"

Anyway, am sure it's been covered but the thing that stands out most for me... GB News. Reform have plundered huge support from the platform. The platform which was championed universally by the Tory Right, has ultimately led to their own demise as a party, at least on the last 2 years or so.

Tory MP after Tory MP took their time to jump on the bandwagon, defend it etc, and it simply has led to more and more Reform votes and less and less Tory votes. They could still come back of course, though whether Kemi is capable i dont know, i dont think so.

To an extent I agree, but I have listened to and read alot where his local constituents are up in arms, no replies to emails, does not attend the clinics, constantly MIA. I agree others outside that manor won't care, there are loads of thickos who will drink the reform cool-aid but those impacted will have had enough IMO. Does that mean he moves on, likely IMO, thats what all Shysters do, they go somewhere, use up goodwill and move on.

Also as the RW rhetoric ramps up even they have to pick sides and a line they won't cross, as its proven with Farage v Lowe, Trump v Musk etc, I expect there to be casualties along the way from their own infighting.

As I say, I think the local council elections will give people an idea at how politically poor and prepared they are, only so much "blame the brown men" that someone can do when no one is answer your correspondence on matters that people care about